Meagher Claims Arrest is Result of Smear Campaign

MAHOPAC, N.Y.— Erin Meagher, the CEO/executive director of the Greater Mahopac/Carmel Chamber of Commerce who was charged last week with felony fourth-degree grand larceny, claims the charges are part of a smear tactic because of her political affiliation and her youth.

Meagher, 26, made the claim in a press release to the Putnam County Examiner. In the same Examiner article, Meagher’s attorney, Kevin Reverri, said Meagher is cooperating with the investigation and would be vindicated when all the facts are released.

Repeated calls to Reverri’s office by Mahopac News to elaborate on Meagher’s assertions were not returned.

Meagher, who is also a trustee on the Brewster Village Board and vice president of the Putnam County Industrial Development Agency, was accused of using a Chamber debit card for personal purchases and then altering receipts to disguise the transactions.

According to a press release issued by the Chamber last week, “evidence of larceny, fraud and embezzlement by Meagher was…uncovered by the volunteer executive board of the Chamber.”

In the statement, Chamber officials alleged that Meagher used the debit card as a personal slush fund to purchase items such as jewelry, dresses, Stitch Fix personal styling services, Kate Spade handbags and Ivanka Trump shoes.

“She even flaunted her ill-gotten apparel at Chamber and community events,” the statement read. “She fabricated false and fraudulent invoices from Amazon in an attempt to deceive the board of directors.”

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Department said a joint investigation with the district attorney’s office revealed a misappropriation of funds from the organization.

Chamber officials terminated Meagher from her position Tuesday, morning, March 21, after she was summoned to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department to address the allegations. Investigators from the Sheriff’s Department were at the Chamber office the following afternoon as the investigation continued. Additional charges may be pending.

Meagher, 26, is a Brewster resident. She was hired by the Chamber in January 2016 to replace then-CEO Mike Bucci who had resigned from the position.

Prior to joining the Chamber, she managed Brewster Shipping Center, a commercial shipping location for small businesses. She also worked in commercial exhibition coordination in New York City, managing and setting up art gallery exhibit openings.

The Village of Brewster issued a statement on its website about the arrest.

“The Board of Trustees is aware of the allegations against Trustee Erin Meagher regarding her position with the Greater Mahopac-Carmel Chamber of Commerce,” the statement read. “However, the residents of the Village of Brewster can rest assured that as an individual trustee, Ms. Meagher was never in control of any village finances and had no expense account of any kind through the village. Any and all financial decisions of the village, including expenditures, must be approved by the Board of Trustees. Further, there are audits and controls in place to ensure that the village budget is adhered to in all respects. The Board of Trustees will continue to monitor the situation, and will keep the public informed as to how this may impact her position as trustee.”

The Chamber’s executive board said it is working with Putnam County Assistant District Attorney Larry Glasser and the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department to “prosecute [Meagher] to the fullest extent of the law,” the statement read.

Meagher was booked at the Sheriff’s Office in Carmel and released on her own recognizance. She was issued an appearance ticket and is due back in Carmel Justice Court April 11.

Police said that if convicted of the felony offense, Meagher could face up to four years in jail, a fine of up to $5,000 and an order to pay restitution.

MAHOPAC, N.Y. - The town’s ongoing efforts to install video surveillance cameras in all of its parks took another step forward last week when Recreation Director Jim Gilchrist laid out plans to set up the devices in Camarda Park and the dog park at Sycamore Park.

Last year, the town installed cameras in Chamber Park and McDonough Park.

MAHOPAC, N.Y. - Pine Grove Country Day School in Mahopac got into the spirit of things on May 4 when it joined in the Paint the Town Purple Day.

The event is used to promote the upcoming Relay For Life, the annual fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. This year’s relay will be held Saturday, June 2, noon to midnight, at Mahopac High School.

To some people, juggling a bunch of things at once comes natural. Mahopac senior Ryan Dugan is certainly one of those people as he prepares to graduate and move onto Western Connecticut State University this fall.

“It was a great fit for me with the business program and everything,” Dugan said. “Being close to home is great. In case anything happens, I’m right there.

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